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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
Theodora is the elderly matriarch of an old Southern family. She is nostalgic for the Christmas celebrations of her childhood. She fondly remembers the weeks of preparation to decorate, cook, and fashion gifts, all of which just heightened the anticipation. Now her 60-something daughter and son-in-law (Barbara & Cleland) are living with her in the family's Charleston mansion. And their two grown children – Camille and George – have arrived with their families: children Andrew and Teddie, and George's third wife, Lynnette. Despite the season all they do is snipe at one another, complain and generally misbehave.
Don't they realize this may be Theodora's last Christmas? Can't they put aside their mean-spiritedness and truculent behavior for a few days? Theodora doesn't know how to get the kind of Christmas she wants – the kind that she had with her own grandmother, and her grandmother's housekeeper, Pearl.
I did like the messages Dorothea Benton Frank was trying to impart here: a focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the value of family, the meaning behind traditions; but I didn't think she did a good job of imparting those lessons.
Even so, I was with the story up until the magic started happening. Theodora just irritated me. By her own account she did little but wring her hands for 60 years over her descendants's bad behavior. She confesses to having failed to help her daughter grow up to be a woman, a mother, a wife, a matriarch. So suddenly, because a ghost of her grandmother's housekeeper arrives, all is going to be perfect? I disliked the family. I didn't relate to the excesses of their lifestyle or way of celebrating, and I didn't believe in their transformation.
It was a quick read, and it did make me think of my own family traditions and celebrations, so I give it 2 stars.
Don't they realize this may be Theodora's last Christmas? Can't they put aside their mean-spiritedness and truculent behavior for a few days? Theodora doesn't know how to get the kind of Christmas she wants – the kind that she had with her own grandmother, and her grandmother's housekeeper, Pearl.
I did like the messages Dorothea Benton Frank was trying to impart here: a focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the value of family, the meaning behind traditions; but I didn't think she did a good job of imparting those lessons.
Even so, I was with the story up until the magic started happening. Theodora just irritated me. By her own account she did little but wring her hands for 60 years over her descendants's bad behavior. She confesses to having failed to help her daughter grow up to be a woman, a mother, a wife, a matriarch. So suddenly, because a ghost of her grandmother's housekeeper arrives, all is going to be perfect? I disliked the family. I didn't relate to the excesses of their lifestyle or way of celebrating, and I didn't believe in their transformation.
It was a quick read, and it did make me think of my own family traditions and celebrations, so I give it 2 stars.
I read this in a few hours. It's like a bad version of mary poppins, it's not terrible but not good either. It was cute for the .25 I paid for it.
It didn't really touch me. I had heard good things and was disappointed.
Ninety-three year old, Theodora has seen and lived through a lot. So when she gathers all of her children, grand children and great, grand children together for the holidays at her home, she lets them all know she will not put up with their attitudes. Though, it won’t be easy. Luckily for Theodora, she has an extra pair of hands in her friend and house keeper,
Pearl. Pearl is just as sassy as Theodora; expect that Pearl wins people over with her kindness. Whereas, Theodora just speaks her mind.
The Christmas Pearl is the first book I have read by author, Dorothea Benton Frank. I hard a very hard time getting into the story or the characters. I could see why Theodora had a sharp tongue. Her children and their kids were spoiled brats. That really turned me off quickly. Not to mention that there wasn’t much of a story line. In fact, I am sad to report but I only got about half way and gave up on this book. I kept reading it hoping it would get better but it didn’t. Not much Christmas cheer found in this novel.
Pearl. Pearl is just as sassy as Theodora; expect that Pearl wins people over with her kindness. Whereas, Theodora just speaks her mind.
The Christmas Pearl is the first book I have read by author, Dorothea Benton Frank. I hard a very hard time getting into the story or the characters. I could see why Theodora had a sharp tongue. Her children and their kids were spoiled brats. That really turned me off quickly. Not to mention that there wasn’t much of a story line. In fact, I am sad to report but I only got about half way and gave up on this book. I kept reading it hoping it would get better but it didn’t. Not much Christmas cheer found in this novel.
A heartwarming e-short story to set the mood for Christmas and its traditions--- of course set in the low country in South Carolina. 93 yr old Theodora grew up in a happy southern home and has fond dreams of Christmas past and all it joy it brought. Now traditions have gone by the wayside and she has grown to despise it.
While she was growing up her favorite person was their former housekeeper Pearl. However, Pearl died years ago. However, Christmas is a time for miracles so Pearl shows up to fix this family and their issues.
Granting wishes – a miracle happens and Pearl shows up to fix this family. A cute story for a cold winter evening by the fire with a bit of nostalgia and some recipes to boot.
While she was growing up her favorite person was their former housekeeper Pearl. However, Pearl died years ago. However, Christmas is a time for miracles so Pearl shows up to fix this family and their issues.
Granting wishes – a miracle happens and Pearl shows up to fix this family. A cute story for a cold winter evening by the fire with a bit of nostalgia and some recipes to boot.
The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank
Love pearls and the holiday so figured this would be a good read.
Setting is weeks before Christmas and everybody chips in to decorate. The family and their family and their family will all be together under the same roof.
Liked hearing of the ghosts that show themselves during the family's stay. Pearl is there to help get it all straight.
Clean slate drinks were passed around and Theador waited for it to happen......everybody spoke what was on their mind and it wasn't always nice things to say...
Just a handful know of Pearl's powers...she recreated past holidays and everything about them.
Lots of recipes, what a treasure!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Love pearls and the holiday so figured this would be a good read.
Setting is weeks before Christmas and everybody chips in to decorate. The family and their family and their family will all be together under the same roof.
Liked hearing of the ghosts that show themselves during the family's stay. Pearl is there to help get it all straight.
Clean slate drinks were passed around and Theador waited for it to happen......everybody spoke what was on their mind and it wasn't always nice things to say...
Just a handful know of Pearl's powers...she recreated past holidays and everything about them.
Lots of recipes, what a treasure!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
An easy read, The Christmas Pearl is a traditional, nostalgic trip down the memory lane of Christmas. I liked that it made me reflect on Christmas past, present and future, what Christmas means to me as I age.
The main character Theodora, 93 yrs. old, yearns for days gone by when Christmas was home cooked meals, a beautiful creche, a real tree decorated with hand made ornaments, yummy cookies, and the belief that anything, "anything" at all was possible. Theodora is to spend this Christmas with her "darling daughter and family" whose idea of celebration is far from her expectations. "Who cared what an old lady thought?" But maybe, just maybe something magical will happen and Theodora will get her wish for a Christmas like the old days.
Theodora's description of setting up the creche made the book for me. This is a protestant household but the creche was given to her family by a Catholic friend. It was a reminder of the what Christmas is about.
"On Christmas morning we added the Baby Jesus, the shepherds that night, and then we took them away at the beginning of January when the kings arrived. The shepherds had to go back to work didn't they?"
Set in the south, The Christmas Pearl is warm and welcoming.
The main character Theodora, 93 yrs. old, yearns for days gone by when Christmas was home cooked meals, a beautiful creche, a real tree decorated with hand made ornaments, yummy cookies, and the belief that anything, "anything" at all was possible. Theodora is to spend this Christmas with her "darling daughter and family" whose idea of celebration is far from her expectations. "Who cared what an old lady thought?" But maybe, just maybe something magical will happen and Theodora will get her wish for a Christmas like the old days.
Theodora's description of setting up the creche made the book for me. This is a protestant household but the creche was given to her family by a Catholic friend. It was a reminder of the what Christmas is about.
"On Christmas morning we added the Baby Jesus, the shepherds that night, and then we took them away at the beginning of January when the kings arrived. The shepherds had to go back to work didn't they?"
Set in the south, The Christmas Pearl is warm and welcoming.
Just not for me. If it hadn’t been my book club book, I would not have finished it. The lack of self-awareness of any of the family characters in the book was insufferable. The Magic in it was not done well. And somehow the abuse in the book is waved over. Maybe I would have loved this if I were older or hated all my family, but really, sigh, just not my cup of tea.